Francis e



(No Model.)

P. E. FREY.

V MAIL BOX. f

No. 292,741. Patented JmL-'29, 1884 @7l Y fvy :l :l u v a fzw A M Z f- I 4 Je@ l Weinewes. am 4 M IINirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS E. FREY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES XV.' MCROBERTS, OF SAME PLACE. y

MAIL-BOX. A

` SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 292,741, dated January 29, i884.

` Application tiled November 6, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern,.-

Beit knownthat I, FRANCIS E. FREY, of Springfield, Clarke county, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of mailboxes which are intended for private use and attachment to the exterior of Aresidences or places of business for the carrier or other person to place the mail in, and to be opened only by the authorized party or parties.

I construct my box in such a manner as that it shall occupy al position adjacent to a door or other moving part, which ,when closed, forms one of the walls of the box, and when opened reveals'the interior and allows the contents to be taken out.

As preferably constructed my box is formed to lit in the angle made by the door and the door-jamb at the hinge side, and is attached to the jamb or frame in such away as not only to be closed entirely when the door is shut, but also to have its fastening means entirely hidden, and thus prevent the removal of the box, except when the door is open. The construction is such also as to enable me to attach the box with equal facility either in a right or left hand corner, and in either to obtain equal advantages.

rIhe accompanying drawings L,form a part of this specification, and illustrate what I consider the preferable and best form of embodying the invention.

Figure 1 is a view of a door with my device applied; Fig. 2, a front elevation of my device; Fig. 3, asection of the door and jamb, with a top View of my device in place. Fig. 4 is a perspective taken from the inner side of my device.-

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they occur.

A is the' door or other swinging or moving part, and B the door` j amb or frame, stationary and forming an angle to the face of the door.

C is my box. -Itis composed of a front, C, provided with the usual slot or opening c for receiving the matter, two parallel sides, c c', ends D D, and ribs cl el. The ends D D are preferably parallel to each other, and are vthe outer ends of the ribs holes e e are'provided, through which screws pass to take hold of the wood o1" the frame. The holes penetrate the ribs at right angles, and will receivel the screws as well from one side as the other, thus rendering'thc box equally well adapted for use in a right orleft hand corner. The ribs may be punctured in more than one place, if desired. They need not necessarily extend entirely back to the front of the box, but may terminate j ust beyond the screw-holes. When, however, they reach from front to point of the ends, they serve to strengthen the ends and prevent possibility of their being fractured. If the ends are made thick enough, the ribs may be entirely dispensed with and the holes for receiving the screws made in the ends direct. The end of the box which forms the top is projected slightly over the front, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 at D', and forms ashield to protect the slot c against rain or snow.

Ihe front of the boxa may be oval in form instead of flat, and where desired may have a door to lock or open like other boxes. Ordinarily, however, this will not be desired.

' The box is preferably `made of cast metal, and, as will be' observed, its construction is such as to render it capable of being cast in a single piece. Its simplicity of structure and method of construction combine torcnder its production cheap and its strength anddurability great.

. In use it will be seen that when the door or other moving part is swung away from the side of the box which it closes, that the whole interior of the box is thrown open, and its contents will drop out or can readily be removed. Wherever it isplaced, whether in aright or left hand corner, the jamb or frame will form a wall for one ofthe open sides, and a moving part closing up at right angles to the face of the janib will forni the wall for the other open side of the box and thus completely close it.

It will also be observed that the screws let into the j amb through the ribs d d, or holes in the ends of thc box will be completely hidden and covered when the door is closed, and Will thus be defended against unlawful interference and completely frustrate al1 attempts to remove the box when the door is shut.

It is apparent that the box may be attached to the door and swung with it when it is opened as well as it can be attached to the janib; but I consider it preferable to secure it to the janib.

Having thus described 1ny invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. Amail-box composed of front, sides, and ends, extended past the sides in a pointed forni forming open sides of the box, as set forth.

2. A inail-box formed with an open back aud extended pointed ends, and adapted to be secured to the jalnb or iranie in an angle made by a door or other moving part and its jamb or frame, so that the open back ofthe boX shall be closed by the jamb and door when the door is closed, and one part of the back of the box be opened when the door is opened7 as set forth.

3. A lnail-box having open back and pointed FRA XCIS E. FREI'.

\Vitnesses:

E. S. XVALIpAeic, \V. H. HART. 

